Lynsey Avalone1, Charles Barron1, Carla King1, Rebecca Linn-Walton1, Jen Lau1, Hunter L McQuistion1, Maryann Popiel1, Meera Balasubramaniam1, Richard Freeman1, Omar Fattal1. 1. Office of Behavioral Health (Avalone, Barron, King, Linn-Walton, Freeman, Fattal), Office of Population Health (Lau), Gotham Health, Gouverneur (McQuistion), Jacobi Hospital (Popiel), North Central Bronx Hospital (Popiel), and Bellevue Hospital (Balasubramaniam), NYC Health + Hospitals, New York City; Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York City (McQuistion, Balasubramaniam, Fattal).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine differences in completion rates between telepsychiatry and in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic and a prior reference period. METHODS: The authors used electronic medical record data along with chi-squared or t tests to compare patients' demographic characteristics. Generalized estimating equations for estimating the odds of primary and secondary outcomes were used, controlling for demographic characteristics. RESULTS: During COVID-19, the odds of completing a telepsychiatry visit (N=26,715) were 6.68 times the odds of completing an in-person visit (N=11,094). The odds of completing a telepsychiatry visit during COVID-19 were 3.00 times the odds of completing an in-person visit during the pre-COVID-19 reference period (N=40,318). CONCLUSIONS: In this cross-sectional study, outpatient adult mental health clinic telepsychiatry appointments, largely by telephone, were strongly associated with a higher rate of visit completion compared with in-person visits during and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Regulators should consider permanently enabling reimbursement for telephone-only telepsychiatry visits.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine differences in completion rates between telepsychiatry and in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic and a prior reference period. METHODS: The authors used electronic medical record data along with chi-squared or t tests to compare patients' demographic characteristics. Generalized estimating equations for estimating the odds of primary and secondary outcomes were used, controlling for demographic characteristics. RESULTS: During COVID-19, the odds of completing a telepsychiatry visit (N=26,715) were 6.68 times the odds of completing an in-person visit (N=11,094). The odds of completing a telepsychiatry visit during COVID-19 were 3.00 times the odds of completing an in-person visit during the pre-COVID-19 reference period (N=40,318). CONCLUSIONS: In this cross-sectional study, outpatient adult mental health clinic telepsychiatry appointments, largely by telephone, were strongly associated with a higher rate of visit completion compared with in-person visits during and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Regulators should consider permanently enabling reimbursement for telephone-only telepsychiatry visits.
Authors: Jonathan Purtle; Katherine L Nelson; Sarah McCue Horwitz; Lawrence A Palinkas; Mary M McKay; Kimberly E Hoagwood Journal: Psychiatr Serv Date: 2021-07-29 Impact factor: 3.084